Combined pocketbook and accessory case



F. o. MERZ 2,419,846

COMBINED POCKETBOOK AND ACCESSORY CASE Apri] 29, 1947.

Filed Oct. 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. o. MERZ 2,419,846

COMBINED POGKETBOOK AND ACCESSORY CASE pril 29, 1947.

Filed oct. 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m ,m I

' FREDERuzK O. M5522 gy y( F. o. MERZ 2,419,846

COMBINED POCKETBOOK AND ACCESSORY CASE April 29, 1947.

Filed Oct. 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 29, W4?

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COMBINED POCKE'BggK AND ACCESSORY Frederick 0. Merz, Philadelphia, Pa., assgnor to F. 0. Merz & Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a partnership composed of i?. 0. Merz, Charlotte H. Mera, and H. W. Baumann Application @ctober 19, 1946, Serial No. 704,451

(ci. 15o-35) 3 Slaims.

This invention relates to pocketbooks and the like and more particularly to an improved type of pocketbook of such design and construction as to provide a combination coin purse, bill fold and accessory case which is extremely compact in form, which is of a shape and size adapted to be conveniently carried in the hand or in a pocket, and which is exceedingly simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Inits general appearance, the pocketbook of the present invention resembles in shape and size the conventional and well-known coin purse of the type having a pair of hinged frames adapted to be secured together at their tops by interengaging snap fastener elements. However, the present purse structurally departs from the conventional form in that while it includes a coinpurse as the central compartment of the unit, it additionally includes foldable elements arranged upon either side of the central purse to provide additional compartments for the reception of sundry articles such as are usually carried upon the person, these compartments being respectively arranged in the form of a foldable wallet, having pockets for the reception of bills, checks and other articles.

The foldable elements arranged upon either side of the central coin-purse compartment of the unit constitute side embracing panels for said coinpurse and are adapted to be independently swung away from the purse body to open either foldable wallet as desired, to render its contents accessible without disturbing or exposing to View the contents of the opposite wallet. The free ends of the side embracing panels are quick-detachably secured to opposite sides of the purse body and so swing with the hinged frames of the purse when the latter is opened, the general purpose and aim of the present invention being to provide a plu'- rality of independently openable compartments in a unitary pocketbook of the hinged coin-purse type.

In addition to the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide in a unitary pocketbook having the characteristics above described a construction which readily lends itself to the use of various materials in the construction thereof, such as leather, silk, plastic and other such materials and fabrics, which involves a minimum number of parts each of extremely simple form and pattern and which necessitates a minimum of stitching along lines which are easily accessible to the operator performing the stitching operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will appear from the detailed description which follows, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred construction of a pocketbook constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of such pocketbook;

Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken centrally through the pocketbook;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the pocketbook showing the outer panels thereof spread apart. into co-planar relation with the central purse body thereof in upstanding position;

Figure 5 is a plan view similar to Figure 4 showing the purse body folded over upon the left-hand outer panel of the pocketbook; l

Figure 6 is a pian view also similar to Figure 4 showing the purse body folded over the righthand outer panel. of the pocketbook;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the outer panels swung oppositely from the purse body to show the interior face of one of the foldable wallets of the pocketbook; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view similar to Figure 7 showing the interior face of the opposite foldable wallet of the pocketbook.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that in its essential respects the pocketbook of the present invention includes a central body part l0 in the form of a substantially fiat purse of generally standard type, this purse being formed of a single panel H of any suitable material folded upon itself, as at l2, and stitched partially along its opposite side edges to provide a purse-type pocket i3. The upper side edge portions and the top edges of the folded pocket-forming panel are suitably secured to rigid mouth frames lli-#I4 hinged together in conventional manner to complete the pocket purse I0, these frames being provided with the usual nterengaging -fastener elements l5 at thetops thereof for securing the purse in closed condition.

Embracing the central body part l0, that is, the purse-type pocket I3, is a panel it substantially co-extensive in width with that of the purse body and of a, length sumcient to extend continuously from one upper edge of the purse downwardly about the bottom of the purse and thence upwardly to the opposite upper edge thereof. This panel I6 is thus of a shape and size such that it fully embraces the opposite sides and bottom of the purse and so provides for the latter a pair of side embracing external leaves I1 andIB. The panel IG may be formed of any suitable material, such as leather, plastic or fabric and may be backed with any suitable stiffening .material to provide the external leaves I1 and I8 with requisite stiffness.

vThe central body part IIJ forming the pursetype pocket I3 is provided upon opposite sides thereof with overlying panels I9-I9. which respectively extend beyond the lower edge of the pocket I3 to an extent sufficient to fully and completely overlie the inner faces of the external leaves I1 and I8. The top and upper side edge portionsl of said panels I9-I9 are secured to the corresponding hinged frame members I4 of the purse. the remaining marginal edges of said panels I9-I9 being stitched, as at 20, tothe corresponding marginal edges of the leaves I1 and I8, respectively.

The character of this stitching constitutes an important feature of the present invention, it being noted that the external leaves I1 and I8 are entirely free lof the corresponding panels I9-I9 except at their marginal edges. Also, it is important to observe that the lines of stitching along the side edges of the external leaves I1 and I8 extend laterally along the side edges of the purse-pocket I3 to secure the marginal edges of the panels I9-I9 to the corresponding marginal edges of the internal folded panel I formingthe central pocket I3. Thus, the side edges of the folded-panel forming this central pocket I3 are stitched together by the same lines of stitching which are employed to secure together the coincident marginal edges of those portions of the panels I9-I9 between which the pursepocket I3 is embraced, these lines of stitching being then further extended to secure together the marginal edges of the overlapping portions of the inner panels I 9-I9 and the external panel I6v to form the external leaves I1 and I8.

` Inasmuch as the pocketbook is devoid of any lines of stitching extending transversely across the external panel I6 in the region immediately In the particular pocketbook illustrated, one of these foldable side wallets is internally provided with overlapping panels 25 and 28 extending lengthwise of the extended wallet to form a pair of at pockets for the reception of bills, checks and the like (see Figures 5 and 8). While the opposite wallet is internally provided with a panel 21 extending transversely of the inner portion of the wallet to form a. small flat pocket and with an extensible panel 28 extending transversely of the outer leaf portion of the wallet to form a pocket for the reception of relatively bulky articles. such as rouge and powder compacts and the like.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate most clearly the lines of stitching which characterize the pocketbook of the present invention, it being noted that the stitches along'the opposite side edges of the 'central purse-forming body of the pocketbook diverge from the bottom edge of said body to extend along the marginal edges ofthe hinged leaves I1 and I 8. Such stitching is most expeditiously eiected by first stitching together the coincident side edges of the central purse-forming body and of the portions of the panels Ill-I9 which immediately overlie the opposite faces of said central body, such initial stitching being along the lines designated 29-29 in Figures 7 and 8. Thereafter, the external panel I8 is marginally stitched to ythe overlying portions of the opposite inner panels I 9-I 9 by the lines of stitching designated 30 in Figures 7 and 8, this latter stitching commencing at the lower terminus ot the line oi' stitching 29, as at 3|, and extending about the free marginal edges of one of the freely extending external leaves I1I8 to the point 32,

. from whence it is continued about the free marginal edge of the other of said leaves to the commencement point 3|. The lines of stitching 30 thus extend marginally about the full perimeter of the panel I 6 and together with the lines of stitching 29-29 along the edges of the central purse-forming body, provide a unitary organization of the complemental parts of the pocketbook.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general principles thereof, and it is accordingly adjacent the central fold thereof and also in view of the fact that the bottom fold of the central pocket-forming panel is entirely free of the external panel in the region aforesaid, a freely flexible hinge portion 22 is provided along the bottom edge of the pocketbook to provide for free opening of one or both of the leaves I1 and I8 to the fullest extent. Each leaf is releasably secured to its corresponding face of the central purse-pocket I3 by means of the usual cooperating snap-fastening elements 23 and 24 respectively secured to the outer face of thepursepocket I3 and the inner face of the overlying leaf.

As clearly appears in Figures 4 to 8, each outer face of the purse-pocket I3 forms an uninterrupted continuation of the inner face of one of the hinged leaf members. Consequently, each leaf member forms in conjunction with its adjoining side panel of the central purse-pocket a foldablewallet which is adapted to be heldclosed by the coacting snap-fastening elements 23-24. Foldable wallets are thus provided upon opposite sides of the central body of the pocketbook, the internal surfaces of which may betted with pockets of various shape and arrangement as desired.

intended to claim the same broadly as well as specically as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

l. A pocketbook of the character described comprising a pair of overlying rectangularshaped panels coextensive in size and shape, a purse unit disposed between the upper half portions of said overlying panels, said purse unit including a pair of hinged mouth-forming frame members and a single panel secured thereto in folded relation to provide an article-receiving pocket, the marginal edges of the upper half portions of said overlying panels being also secured to said frame members whereby said article-receiving pocket is embraced between said upper half portions of the overlying panels, and an independent panel `coextensive in size and shape with the combined size and shape of the lower half portions of said overlying panels, said independent panel being folded upon itself for disposition between said lower half portions of said overlying panels with the foldthereof closely adjacent the bottom fold of said pocket-forming panel, said independent panel being secured to the lower half portions of the overlying panels by a continuous line of stitching extending about the perimetral margin of said independent panel whereby to provide conjointly with said lower half portions of the overlying panels a pair of leaves each swingable relatively to said purse unit substantially about the fold line of said independent panel.

2. A pocketbook comprising a central body portion in the form of a substantially flat purse having a pair of hinged mouth-forming frame members respectively provided with coacting fasteners, said purse including an article-receiving pocket formed of a single central panel folded upon itself with the fold forming the bottom of said pocket, a pair of independent panels respectively overlying the opposite faces of said folded central panel and extending freely a substantial distance beyond the fold of said central panel, the freely extending portions of said pair of independent panels being of such length and foldable upon themselves about a transverse line closely adjoining the bottom fold of said pocketforming panel as to present their free ends in substantial coincidence with the outer ends of said hinged frame members, and an additional single panel coextensive in size and shape with the combined size and shape of the freely extending portions of said pair of independent panels when the latter are extended in coplanar relation, said additional single panel being disposed in overlying relation with respect to the freely extending portions of said pair of panels and being secured thereto by a continuous line of stitching extending about the perimetral margin of said additional single panel whereby to provide conjointly with said pair of panels a pair of leaves swingable relatively to said central body portion about the transverse line aforesaid.

3. A pocketbook comprising a central body portion in the form of a substantially flat purse having a pair of hinged mouth-forming frame members 'respectively provided with coacting fasteners, said purse including an article-receiving pocket formed of a single central panel folded upon itself with the fold forming the bottom of said pocket, a pair of independent panels respeotively overlying the opposite outer faces of said folded central panel and extending freely a. substantial distance beyond the fold of said central panel, the freely extending portions of said pair of panels being adapted, respectively, to be folded back over the portions thereof which overlie the opposite faces of said pocket-forming panel, and a single external panel coextensive in shape and size with the combined-shape and size of the freely extending portions of said pair of independent panels when the same are extended into co-planar relation, said single external panel being disposed in overlying relation with respect to the freely extending portions of said pair of panels and being secured thereto by a continuous line of stitching extending about the perimetral marginof said single external panel whereby to provide conjointly with said pair of panels a pair of external leaves between which said central body portion is embraced.

FREDERICK O. MERZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN'rs Number Name Date 905,034 Weidmann Nov. 24, 1908 1,101,490 Geissler June 23, 1914 1,406,035 Kulick Feb. "I, 1922 1,425,217 Regulski Aug. 8, 1922 1,790,497 Brady L.-- Jan. 27, 1931 2,298,543 Schmidt Oct. 13, 1942 

